Champion show from talented Ellon kickboxer

Ellon kickboxer Martin Young recently defended his WKN British Full Contact Kickboxing title with a stunning victory at the Ulster Hall in Belfast.

He stopped his opponent Irishman Davy Foster, strongly tipped locally to win the crown, in the first round in front of a sell-out home crowd.

Martin Young's arm is raised by referee Bob Hunter.

Young, part of the Spartan Fight team out of the Satorishido Martial Arts Club, had been training hard for the five-round defence of the title he won when he beat Foster in Aberdeen in May of last year.

Both fighters put up a hard fight in that contest but Foster was cut above the eye in round four which resulted in the ringside doctor stopping the fight.

This drew some controversy with the Irish camp claiming the cut was an accidental clash of heads.

Ringside judges did not agree and awarded the title to Young. There was an agreement by both coaches that there would be a rematch.

But Young, who trains under coach Albert Ross at the Fraserburgh Fitness Centre, had no intention of giving up the coveted title.

This time he landed a fast, straight right hand to the head of Foster which sent him down to the canvas, Foster made the count and was back on his feet but Young saw his opportunity and landed a barrage of blows to the body and head.

A left hook found its target and again Foster went crashing to the canvas.

The brave Irish fighter made the count but Young was like a well-oiled machine and straight away started to deliver crushing blows.

It was only a matter of time before Young would stop his opponent and referee Bob Hunter stepped in and halted the punishment after 90secs of round one.

Coach Ross, who has successfully trained fighters up to, and including, world champion level, said: “Martin has a great future in the sport if he continues to train hard and want it enough,

“Here in Aberdeenshire we have some of the best kickboxers in the world and we have proved this in the past with the champions that have come from this area.

“The next step for Martin is for him to improve on his training and then we will look overseas to challenge for a European title.”